IFC 4.3.2.20250327 (IFC4X3_ADD2) under development

7.11.3.16 IfcSurfaceFeature

7.11.3.16.1 Semantic definition

# IfcSurfaceFeature

A surface feature is a modification at (onto, or into) of the surface of an element. Parts of the surface of the entire surface may be affected. The volume and mass of the element may be increased, remain unchanged, or be decreased by the surface feature, depending on manufacturing technology. However, any increase or decrease of volume is small compared to the total volume of the element.

The part–whole relationship is established by an aggregation relationship object, expressing the decomposition of an element type into one or more additive elements (element parts) and zero or more feature elements.

*Containment Use Definition*:

Surface features shall have no spatial containment relationship to the spatial structure since they are dependent on element types without spatial containment relationships or on an element occurrence with own spatial containment relationship.

  • The SELF\IfcElement.ContainedInStructure relationship shall be NIL.

*Geometry use definition*:

The geometric representation of IfcSurfaceFeature is given by the IfcProductDefinitionShape, allowing multiple geometric representation.

Local Placement

The local placement for IfcSurfaceFeature is defined in its supertype IfcProduct. It is defined by the IfcLocalPlacement, which defines the local coordinate system that is referenced by all geometric representations.

  • In case of features which are part of an element type, absolute placement into the type object's implied coordinate system shall be used.
  • In case of features which are voiding an element occurrence, the PlacementRelTo relationship of IfcLocalPlacement shall point to the local placement of the respective element.

Shape representation

Different shape representations may be used, depending on the nature of the feature and information requirements:

  • Symbolic representation, such as the two-dimensional bounding box of a tag.
  • A geometric set representing the geometric items of a mark.
  • Surface representations of treated parts of the element surface by means of IfcShellBasedSurfaceModel. The faces within the surface model may be included into a B-Rep model within a representation map of the parent element type.

Higher-level parameters (geometric and non-geometric) may be provided by property sets based on local agreements.

7.11.3.16.2 Entity inheritance

7.11.3.16.3 Attributes

# Attribute Type Description
IfcRoot (4)
IfcObjectDefinition (7)
IfcObject (5)
IfcProduct (5)
IfcElement (13)
Click to show 34 hidden inherited attributes
IfcSurfaceFeature (2)
9 PredefinedType OPTIONAL IfcSurfaceFeatureTypeEnum

Indicates the kind of surface feature.

AdheresToElement IfcRelAdheresToElement FOR RelatedSurfaceFeatures

Reference to the IfcRelAdheresToElement relationship that uses this IfcSurfaceFeature to adhere or treat the surface of the IfcRelAdheresToElement.RelatingElement.

Table 7.11.3.16.D

7.11.3.16.4 Formal propositions

Name Description
CorrectPredefinedType

No description available.

NOT(EXISTS(PredefinedType)) OR
(PredefinedType <> IfcSurfaceFeatureTypeEnum.USERDEFINED) OR
((PredefinedType = IfcSurfaceFeatureTypeEnum.USERDEFINED) AND EXISTS (SELF\IfcObject.ObjectType))
Table 7.11.3.16.E

7.11.3.16.5 Property sets

  • Pset_Condition
    • AssessmentDate
    • AssessmentCondition
    • AssessmentDescription
    • AssessmentType
    • AssessmentMethod
    • LastAssessmentReport
    • NextAssessmentDate
    • AssessmentFrequency
  • Pset_ConstructionAdministration
    • ProcurementMethod
    • SpecificationSectionNumber
    • SubmittalIdentifer
  • Pset_ConstructionOccurence
    • InstallationDate
    • ModelNumber
    • TagNumber
    • AssetIdentifier
  • Pset_ElementKinematics
    • CyclicPath
    • CyclicRange
    • LinearPath
    • LinearRange
    • MaximumAngularVelocity
    • MaximumConstantSpeed
    • MinimumTime
  • Pset_EnvironmentalCondition
    • ReferenceAirRelativeHumidity
    • ReferenceEnvironmentTemperature
    • MaximumAtmosphericPressure
    • StorageTemperatureRange
    • MaximumWindSpeed
    • OperationalTemperatureRange
    • MaximumRainIntensity
    • SaltMistLevel
    • SeismicResistance
    • SmokeLevel
    • MaximumSolarRadiation
  • Pset_EnvironmentalImpactIndicators
    • Reference
    • FunctionalUnitReference
    • IndicatorsUnit
    • LifeCyclePhase
    • ExpectedServiceLife
    • TotalPrimaryEnergyConsumptionPerUnit
    • WaterConsumptionPerUnit
    • HazardousWastePerUnit
    • NonHazardousWastePerUnit
    • ClimateChangePerUnit
    • AtmosphericAcidificationPerUnit
    • RenewableEnergyConsumptionPerUnit
    • NonRenewableEnergyConsumptionPerUnit
    • ResourceDepletionPerUnit
    • InertWastePerUnit
    • RadioactiveWastePerUnit
    • StratosphericOzoneLayerDestructionPerUnit
    • PhotochemicalOzoneFormationPerUnit
    • EutrophicationPerUnit
  • Pset_EnvironmentalImpactValues
    • TotalPrimaryEnergyConsumption
    • WaterConsumption
    • HazardousWaste
    • NonHazardousWaste
    • ClimateChange
    • AtmosphericAcidification
    • RenewableEnergyConsumption
    • NonRenewableEnergyConsumption
    • ResourceDepletion
    • InertWaste
    • RadioactiveWaste
    • StratosphericOzoneLayerDestruction
    • PhotochemicalOzoneFormation
    • Eutrophication
    • LeadInTime
    • Duration
    • LeadOutTime
  • Pset_InstallationOccurrence
    • InstallationDate
    • AcceptanceDate
    • PutIntoOperationDate
  • Pset_MaintenanceStrategy
    • AssetCriticality
    • AssetFrailty
    • AssetPriority
    • MonitoringType
    • AccidentResponse
  • Pset_MaintenanceTriggerCondition
    • ConditionTargetPerformance
    • ConditionMaintenanceLevel
    • ConditionReplacementLevel
    • ConditionDisposalLevel
  • Pset_MaintenanceTriggerDuration
    • DurationTargetPerformance
    • DurationMaintenanceLevel
    • DurationReplacementLevel
    • DurationDisposalLevel
  • Pset_MaintenanceTriggerPerformance
    • TargetPerformance
    • PerformanceMaintenanceLevel
    • ReplacementLevel
    • DisposalLevel
  • Pset_ManufacturerOccurrence
    • AcquisitionDate
    • BarCode
    • SerialNumber
    • BatchReference
    • AssemblyPlace
    • ManufacturingDate
  • Pset_ManufacturerTypeInformation
    • GlobalTradeItemNumber
    • ArticleNumber
    • ModelReference
    • ModelLabel
    • Manufacturer
    • ProductionYear
    • AssemblyPlace
    • OperationalDocument
    • SafetyDocument
    • PerformanceCertificate
  • Pset_MarkingLinesCommon LINEMARKING
    • DashedLine
    • DashedLinePattern
    • NominalWidth
  • Pset_RepairOccurrence
    • RepairContent
    • RepairDate
    • MeanTimeToRepair
  • Pset_Risk
    • RiskName
    • RiskType
    • NatureOfRisk
    • RiskAssessmentMethodology
    • UnmitigatedRiskLikelihood
    • UnmitigatedRiskConsequence
    • UnmitigatedRiskSignificance
    • MitigationPlanned
    • MitigatedRiskLikelihood
    • MitigatedRiskConsequence
    • MitigatedRiskSignificance
    • MitigationProposed
    • AssociatedProduct
    • AssociatedActivity
    • AssociatedLocation
  • Pset_RoadMarkingCommon HATCHMARKING
    • ApplicationMethod
    • DiagramNumber
    • MaterialColour
    • MaterialThickness
    • MaterialType
    • Structure
  • Pset_RoadMarkingCommon LINEMARKING
    • ApplicationMethod
    • DiagramNumber
    • MaterialColour
    • MaterialThickness
    • MaterialType
    • Structure
  • Pset_RoadMarkingCommon PAVEMENTSURFACEMARKING
    • ApplicationMethod
    • DiagramNumber
    • MaterialColour
    • MaterialThickness
    • MaterialType
    • Structure
  • Pset_RoadMarkingCommon SYMBOLMARKING
    • ApplicationMethod
    • DiagramNumber
    • MaterialColour
    • MaterialThickness
    • MaterialType
    • Structure
  • Pset_RoadSymbolsCommon SYMBOLMARKING
    • Text
    • TypeDesignation
  • Pset_ServiceLife
    • ServiceLifeDuration
    • MeanTimeBetweenFailure
  • Pset_Tolerance
    • ToleranceDescription
    • ToleranceBasis
    • OverallTolerance
    • HorizontalTolerance
    • OrthogonalTolerance
    • VerticalTolerance
    • PlanarFlatness
    • HorizontalFlatness
    • ElevationalFlatness
    • SideFlatness
    • OverallOrthogonality
    • HorizontalOrthogonality
    • OrthogonalOrthogonality
    • VerticalOrthogonality
    • OverallStraightness
    • HorizontalStraightness
    • OrthogonalStraightness
    • VerticalStraightness
  • Pset_Uncertainty
    • UncertaintyBasis
    • UncertaintyDescription
    • HorizontalUncertainty
    • LinearUncertainty
    • OrthogonalUncertainty
    • VerticalUncertainty
  • Pset_Warranty
    • WarrantyIdentifier
    • WarrantyStartDate
    • IsExtendedWarranty
    • WarrantyPeriod
    • WarrantyContent
    • PointOfContact
    • Exclusions
  • Qto_BodyGeometryValidation
    • GrossSurfaceArea
    • NetSurfaceArea
    • GrossVolume
    • NetVolume
    • SurfaceGenusBeforeFeatures
    • SurfaceGenusAfterFeatures
  • Qto_SurfaceFeatureBaseQuantities
    • Area
    • Length

7.11.3.16.6 Concept usage

Concept Usage Description
IfcRoot (2)
IfcObjectDefinition (9)
IfcObject (5)
IfcProduct (18)
IfcElement (44)
IfcFeatureElement (1)
Click to show 79 hidden inherited concepts
IfcSurfaceFeature (3)
Product Local Placement General

The local placement for IfcSurfaceFeature is defined in its supertype IfcProduct. It is defined by the IfcLocalPlacement, which defines the local coordinate system that is referenced by all geometric representations.

  • In case of features which are part of an element type, absolute placement into the type object's implied coordinate system shall be used.
  • In case of features which are voiding an element occurrence, the PlacementRelTo relationship of IfcLocalPlacement shall point to the local placement of the respective element.
Property Sets for Objects General

This concept can be applied to the following resources:

Quantity Sets General

This concept can be applied to the following resources:

Table 7.11.3.16.F

7.11.3.16.7 Formal representation

ENTITY IfcSurfaceFeature
SUBTYPE OF (IfcFeatureElement);
PredefinedType : OPTIONAL IfcSurfaceFeatureTypeEnum;
INVERSE
AdheresToElement : IfcRelAdheresToElement FOR RelatedSurfaceFeatures;
WHERE
CorrectPredefinedType : NOT(EXISTS(PredefinedType)) OR
(PredefinedType <> IfcSurfaceFeatureTypeEnum.USERDEFINED) OR
((PredefinedType = IfcSurfaceFeatureTypeEnum.USERDEFINED) AND EXISTS (SELF\IfcObject.ObjectType));
END_ENTITY;

7.11.3.16.8 References

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7.11.3.16.9 Changelog

7.11.3.16.9.1 IFC4

  • New resource

7.11.3.16.9.2 IFC4.3_DEV_738df036

  • inverse attribute, AdheresToElement
  • where rule, CorrectPredefinedType
  • where rule, HasObjectType